Bow Front DIY Canopy Suggestions?

[bkiba]

Ok I am planning on building a canopy to house yet to be bought T5 retrofits. The canopy is for my 72 BF so it is odd shaped. I know how to trace out the pieces but the thing I will have most trouble with is the round front (vertical) wall. Some have mentioned bending plywood to the shape, what grade/thickness is best for a piece like this?

Also any other suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks!

 

[74nautique]

Get the 1/8" thick and and wood glue them together (layer it). I used the stand and clamped my sheets it, to get the shape.

 

[74nautique]

Oh yeah, make the sheets longer than you need and after you get to the thickness you want, then cut to length.

 

[skierguy]

If you are going to layer 1/8" make sure to alternate grain direction for added strength.

 

[mpomfret]

How far does the front deflect ? And how long is the tank ? And how tall do you intend to make the canopy ? I would bet you could get 1/4" (or maybe even 3/8") plywood to bend a couple of inches over a 4 foot span without too much trouble. That would save you the hassle of laminating 1/8" plywood.

Matt

 

[dela]

How do you handle the edges? The way the Oceanic plastic unit works, all the vertical parts are one piece. They just bend really tight at the corners and keep going.

 

[MeuserReef]

I used to build circular staircases for my uncle in NC and he showed me a trick for making the swells (bottom step extends farther than the other steps and is rounded at the end). They are wrapped with a piece of plywood that is easily bent by cutting many grooves along the back of it.

To make these... you will need a table saw.. and you need 5-ply or 7-ply plywood (more layers is better). You set your table saw to a depth that will cut a groove in the plywood but only cut into 6 of the layers. These cuts are made every 1/2" all olong the back of the ply-wood. What you will end up with is a very flexible piece of plywood that would allow you to bend it nicely to the contour of your 72 BF tank. The smaller the space between grooves... the smoother the finish on the other (front) side of the plywood will be once you bend it. Im not sure if you can bend it enough to replicate the Oceanic look... but it might be possible.

Hope this helps.